Lithuania takes threats seriously, engages in advance prevention

Lithuania is treating potential threats with seriousness and is proactively implementing preventative measures, stated M. Katelynas, a defense official. While declining to reveal operational details, Katelynas assured that Lithuania is prepared and taking action in advance.

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I am certainly not inclined to reveal operational details of what we are doing and what we will do, but I can certainly assure you that Lithuania takes potential threats seriously and we are engaged in prevention in advance.

Katelynas visited the Independence liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Klaipėda, one of the sites secured by the Public Security Service (VST). The military is currently assisting the VST by reinforcing certain locations and performing functions that cannot be publicly disclosed. "The army is helping us to perform certain functions in certain places – I can't really name what they are doing, but they are really supporting us with their forces, according to the VST's needs," Katelynas explained.

The VST possesses detection equipment capable of identifying drones and radio wave jammers that can be used against them. This comes amid intelligence reports from early August indicating that Russia is considering provocations in the Baltic region, including attacks on critical infrastructure. These operations could potentially involve Ukrainian drones to simulate "false flag" attacks, according to Lithuanian intelligence.

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We are currently reinforcing some of our facilities with the help of the army. (...) The army is helping us to perform certain functions in certain places – I can't really name what they are doing, but they are really supporting us with their forces, according to the VST's needs.

In response to potential Russian operations against Baltic critical infrastructure, Lithuania had already strengthened the security of strategic sites indefinitely in late July. These sites include the Klaipėda LNG terminal, the LitPol Link power connection with Poland, a transformer substation in the Alytus region, and the Kruonis Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Plant. Airspace violations have also been recorded in the Baltic states and Finland for several months as Russian military forces divert Ukrainian drones. As Ukraine continues drone attacks on Russian territory, the Kremlin accuses the Baltic states of allowing their territory to be used for Ukrainian military operations.

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We have certain devices, we also have detection devices, where we can detect a flying drone. We also have certain devices – radio wave jammers, which we can use against drones.